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Newmarket Racecourses hosts its final fixture of the season on Saturday, October 29, with an eight-race card that provides a perfect mix of emerging talent and seasoned performers.
The mile £21,500 Listed EBF “Mount Nelson” Montrose Fillies' Stakes (3.55pm) has a rich history of producing future stars. Rajeem (2005), Passage Of Time (2006) and Timepiece (2009) all progressed to Group One glory, while the outstanding Ouija Board came home third in 2003 before going on to register six victories at the highest level.
Blue Bunting took the spoils last season before returning to the Rowley Mile to triumph in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas. The Godolphin filly has since enjoyed further Group One success in the Darley Irish Oaks and Darley Yorkshire Oaks.
Her trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni will be represented this year by Tactfully, who made a striking debut when taking a mile Nottingham fillies' maiden by four lengths on September 28.
Al Zarooni commented: “Tactfully is a nice filly and she has improved for her first start. The slight concern I have is that her condition might be going a little bit because of the colder weather. Her coat is starting to turn but she has been fine in her work and I am hopeful that she can run well.
“She surprised me a little bit at Nottingham but Neil Callan gave her a very good ride. I think that the main thing with juveniles is to get them settled in races and make them pass horses, because they learn a lot more than being out in front from the start.
“We don't know how good she is at the moment and Saturday's race will tell us a lot more about her ability. She hasn't reached the level of Lyric Of Light or Discourse yet, but you never know until you give them a serious test.
“She gets the mile well and I love taking horses to Newmarket. It's been a very lucky track for me this year, starting with Blue Bunting right through to Lyric Of Light's success in the Shadwell Fillies' Mile.”
A field of 13 for the Listed EBF “Mount Nelson” Montrose Fillies' Stakes includes 11 last time out winners, headed by the William Haggas-trained Diala, a ready winner of the Express Coffee Cars Median Auction Maiden Fillies' Stakes over seven furlongs of the Rowley Mile on October 19.
Oojooba made a winning debut for Roger Varian at Haydock on September 24, while the Mark Johnston-trained Abishena also made a successful start to her career at Leicester on October 4.
Both the Clive Brittain-trained Amthal and Graser, representing Marco Botti, have tasted success on the Polytrack of Kempton Park, while the Hughie Morrison-trained Coquet has also been victorious on the all-weather, having posted a ready win at Wolverhampton.
Paul Cole will be represented by a pair of Goodwood winners, Gifted Girl and Swingland, while the strong field is completed by the Charlie Hills-trained Na Zdorovie, Pretty Pebble, representing Brian Meehan, plus the Richard Hannon-trained pair of Dare To Dream and Esentepe.
Saturday's card also includes a pair of Listed contests for older horses. Dual South African Grade One winner Irish Flame and last season's Group Two Superlative Stakes runner-up Ecliptic feature among a field of nine for the £30,000 Novae Bloodstock Insurance Ben Marshall Stakes (2.05pm) over a mile.
The 10-furlong £30,000 James Seymour Stakes (4.25pm) has attracted eight runners including last season's Grade One Breeders' Cup Turf victor Dangerous Midge and recent Group Three Darley Stakes runner-up Dux Scholar. Racing gets underway at 1.00pm with the first division of the EBF “Makfi” Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
